Have you got the baking bug?
To celebrate the return of the nation’s favourite innuendo-filled show, I have a little baking give away for you.
But first, what do you think of the new series so far? Are you pining for Mary, Mel and Sue or have you fallen for Prue, Sandi and Noel?
I loved Bake Off when it started; it was so new and different and gave some great bakers a platform. I’ve been lucky enough to cook with a couple of the local stars too.
Last year I did a show stopper workshop with John Whaite at his sexy as anything cookery school near me. John is such an amazing baker, and he is a hoot too. He’s been kind enough to let me host two cake clubs there, and I am saving up to do a course, hopefully early next year as I would love to get some more of his knowledge.
Obligatory selfie!
The year before that, I also had a great workshop with contestant Luis Troyano, another local lad (Stockport) who took the fear out of pastry in a fun workshop at the Coop HQ. Involving booze and Nutella, it was a perfect tart! 
However, I have thought for the last couple of series that maybe they need to change things a bit to keep it fresh. It feels a bit samey at times. For example, for the love of god, put a blast chiller in! In no way is cooking against the clock anything like cooking at home, so I find it a bit mean that they don’t help with stress by having a blast chiller.
Also I wonder if it is time to add new challenges. I know that many people hate change, but if this wonderfully British institution is going to keep going it needs to keep reinventing itself. But even saying all of that, I love, love, love to bake so will always watch when I am in! What do you think?
Win Opies baking goodies
There is loads of new foodie telly at the moment. If it has you dusting off your mixing bowl and fretting about soggy bottoms, then this give away is for you! Opie’s Foods create top quality ingredients that will take your baking to the next level. Our baking box includes:
- Cherries in kirsch – ideal for my addictive cherry bakewell brownies
- Cocktail cherries – great for garnish and cupcakes
- Stem ginger – the key ingredient in these honey ginger palmiers
- Crystallised ginger – perfect in these fiery ginger cookies
- Summer fruit compote – use it in these no bake desert pots if cake isn’t your thing
Super easy to enter – just complete the Rafflecopter below. Entries close on the 31st October at midnight and the winner will be notified via email.
Good luck, and happy baking!
Pin for the win!
chocolate chip nutella stuffed cookies
Good gracious can I have some please Sam?!
As plain as it sounds, my banana bread is fantastic! Lemon zest and greek yogurt through and through!
Can’t beat banana bread. I make mine with cardamom
Oh I love Opies but the cocktail cherries are my favourite. Yum yum
For cocktail hour Yes?!
I’m a bit of a mean baker so its hard to pick. My other half would probably vote for my creme brulee cheesecake
Mmm that sounds good. I’m voting with your other half!
My signature dish would probably my cupcakes the Black Forest cupcakes always go down well
I love black forest Donba – I make a good black forest brownie. The cherries in kirsch would be perfect for you!
Gingerbread men
My date and walnut is pretty awesome!
Nice prize!
I make an amazing apple and cinnamon sponge cake that’s perfect with vanilla custard
I tend to be more of a traybake kind of gal, they always get eaten.
I make some nice cupcakes x
I make lemon butterfly cakes with lemon curd inside, underneath the buttercream, dusted with icing sugar. (Or plain with jam under the buttercream)
I love old school butterfly cakes – makes me feel 8 again!
Cherry Bakewell tart and would be super with some of these cherries ,cheers for super chance
Everybody likes my rhubarb pies x
my maltesers cupcakes
whiskey and walnut cakes
Love to win
My chocolate stout cake is always requested by my friends
Yum!
No, I wish I could bake better.
Well Claire these ingredients would be a great start!
I have a really good recipe for Christmas Cake and everyone likes my chocolate and prune pudding.
I love Christmas cake – often make several!
Probably only a rich chocolate cake with chocolate ganache; very simple but decadent enough to produce an “Oooh!” from anyone likely to get their hands on some!
Yes I can see that would make me ooh as well!
Yes, I make a lovely Bakewell tart.
Love bakewell!
my husband backs ridiculously good butterfly cakes, so nice our childrens schools all have him baking cakes everytime they have a sale
not very ambitious but the closest I get is a tasty banana cake
Banana and walnut cake
It doesn’t come looking like a show stopper, however my lemon drizzle cake is renowned for it being a show/eat stopper
Taste matters most carol!
Chocolate fudge cake is my showstopper
Raspberry bakewell sandwich is my best bake
Love it!
My husband has recently been making a chocolate beetroot cake which requires no flour and using beetroot we have grown. Rather delicious
I make a wicked Victoria sponge!
Classic Victoria Sponge! Always goes down a treat with the hubby and kids
Classics are the best.
ha no im not that good at baking
i wouldnt say i have a show stopper but my other half loves my coffee cake 🙂
I make a lovely cherry and almond cake.
nope, i try my best but it always goes wrong so i cover my wonky cake in chocolate and call it a hedgehog cake lol x
Baked white chocolate cheesecake served with raspberry coulis.
Lemon drizzle my whole family love it
Not really I am not very good so a lemon drizzle is about as good as I get.